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Global consumer confidence ended 2014 with an index score of 96—a decline of two index points from the previous quarter, which comes after several quarters of positive momentum. The index, which has been on a slow and steady rise for about two years, is still above a pre-recession level of 94 from third-quarter 2007.

Health and wellness are hot topics around the globe, and they have been for years. Despite the immense amount of attention devoted to the topic, however, the obesity rate is high—and rising. The good news, however, is that consumers around the world are taking steps to take charge of their health.

Global consumer confidence edged up one index point in the third quarter to a score of 98—up from 97 in the previous quarter and up two points from the start of the year. The index, which has been on a slow and steady rise since Q1 2012, has now exceeded a pre-recession level of 94 for three consecutive quarters.

What traits lead to a strong corporate reputation? Is it thought leadership? A diverse product line? Innovation? Corporate social responsibility efforts? While many are divided on specifics, most would likely agree that reputation is built on a smattering of all of these, along with a few others as well. The one characteristic that might not be as expected, however, is location.

Advertising, although inherently a creative process, offers many opportunities for greater efficiency. Advertising Process Control highlights the many non-creative areas that advertisers, publishers and agencies could and should work to control better to consistently improve their performance across advertising campaigns.

Advertising Process Control is an advanced state to achieve. Before you can start managing your advertising production process, you need to accurately assess where your organization is on the Advertising Process Control continuum.

Reliable genius is what you really want from your advertising. Why aren't you getting it? Probably because you don't take your advertising production process as seriously as you take many of the other processes in your company.

People who are more informed, engaged and active when it comes to social and business issues around the world are increasingly inquisitive and knowledgeable about the companies they choose to buy from. In fact, there are signs that they’ve never been more interested in the reputation of companies they do business with.

If we know that consumers are engaging more with brands that are going green, producing sustainable products and giving back, do we have insight into which causes resonate the most? And are there discernible preferences between men and women? The short answer is yes.

While global sentiment about personal finances and the costs of living has been trending up for about two years now, men and women aren’t exactly on the same page when it comes to what’s in their pockets. Generally speaking, women see a bright side, but men are seeing an even brighter side.

Digital audience measurement is getting better: measurers are on the lookout for “fraudulent” views, are working to include only “viewable” impressions, and are measuring what percentage of people reached by a campaign actually belong to the group the advertiser was paying for. So what’s next?

Half of consumers around the world say they’re actively trying to lose weight, and 75% of them plan to achieve that goal by changing their diet. But the road to good health isn’t always paved with good intentions. So do desires materialize where it counts—at the point of sale?

Despite our best intentions to eat healthily, the contents of our shopping carts don’t always align with our objectives. And when we look around the globe, not everyone places health attributes atop their list of important considerations when they shop for food.

We’ve just completed a year of transformation in the retail industry, and looking at 2015, it looks like change will remain constant. But change brings opportunity, even within the familiar. Where to begin? Look to the shelf.

The Baby Boomer generation continues to play a major role in the housing market, as well as the U.S. economy more generally. Older households are less likely to move and purchase homes, but their sheer size and relative wealth means this generation will account for $1 out every $4 spent on new home purchases or rent in the next five years.

For over 50 years, there was only a single "app" for TV viewers. The sole function of that app—the cable or satellite company—was to stream premium video content. The facts of yesterday’s TV viewing no longer hold. There are now many TV viewing apps available. Enter "the appification of TV."

Perceptions about private-label brands are favorable around the world, but value shares are not correspondingly distributed; they are much higher in developed regions like Europe, North America and Australia.

All established companies must address a key challenge: How to find the next disruptive innovation while reacting to the disruptive innovations of others. To use the language of this year's TIBCO conference, how can one “ride the disruption wave”? Mitch Barns explores three things he's found that can play a big role.

The problem with brand value is simple: no one agrees on it. The GE brand value, for example, in 2011, was variously estimated to be worth $30.5B, $42.8B, and $50.3B by different valuation services. So if valuations vary so wildly, how can CMOs and CFOs begin to understand the value they deliver with their marketing spending?

The ad industry has always been consumed with the latest trends. This should be no surprise, given that marketers and their agencies spend the better part of their days trying to create them. But nothing in advertising has generated more buzz in recent months than programmatic buying. Buying ad inventory more efficiently by applying rules to technology-enabled, automated purchases has marketers salivating.

Who doesn’t love a good snack? As snack manufacturers look to tailor offerings to deliver snacks that appeal to both the palate and the psyche, knowing what drives a consumer to pick one snack rather than another is vital to stay competitive in the $374 billion worldwide snacking industry.

Despite research showing that two thirds of all new products fail, Nielsen delivers a roadmap for innovative products to stand out from the crowd and succeed in the highly-competitive Greater China market.

Across the globe, shoppers are increasingly turning to the web to buy the things they need. But some categories are benefiting more than others. The online market for consumable goods—due to their hands-on buying nature and perishability—is comparably smaller than for non-consumables—durables and entertainment-realted products. Nevertheless, the global audience is willing and eager to shop the web.

Successful companies in the private sector have gained deep insight into consumer psychology and individual and collective decision-making. Public policy leaders and program managers can make use of these insights to improve significantly the likelihood of success in achieving their policy goals.

Chinese consumer confidence measured at 111 points in the second quarter of 2014. This marks the third consecutive quarter for this level of consumer confidence, according to latest findings from Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index Report.

A new report from Nielsen in partnership with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), identifies four key innovative strategies to help automobile companies better meet the evolving needs of today’s changing Chinese consumers:

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of owning your own car. The ability to get from point A to point B without reliance on public transportation, friends or family creates feelings of both independence and pride. There is no doubt that people are passionate about car ownership—whether new or used, and new findings from Nielsen show how this passion will drive auto sales across the globe.

The mass-growth era, which featured year after year of double-digit GDP growth, is no longer a key theme of Chinese economic growth, Instead, what we see now is a more stable and healthy growth as an outcome of government adjustment.

As China’s investment-driven economy continues to transform into one driven by personal consumption, the country could see a boost in household consumption from today’s 35 percent of GDP to between 45 and 50 percent by 2020.

Chinese consumer confidence in the first quarter of 2014 was measured at the same record high level of 111 points as in the previous quarter, three points higher than the same time period (Q1 2013) the previous year and above the global average of 96.

The advertising landscape landscape is evolving at an unprecedented rate, influenced by largely two factors: media fragmentation and population shifts. These changes are making it increasingly hard to connect with consumers. To maximize their reach, advertisers need to optimize and measure audience delivery, brand lift and sales impact with common metrics across screens.

Mobile matters. Already a powerful presence, it continues to grow. But it is a new medium, and many of the measures brand marketers have come to rely on to guide their investments in other media are not present or not mature in mobile. Marketers must, however, resist the temptation to measure what is easy to measure, and stick with their core principles: focus on measurement they can compare across media and tie to performance, seek agency and media partners with similar philosophies, and rely on proven metrics for determining results.

In the banking realm, where engagement has historically taken place at teller counters, times are changing—and so are consumer banking preferences. And in that way, marketers should make a concerted effort to identify their customers before trying to reach them.

Once the novelty of retirement wanes, many retirees ask themselves: how do I fill the extra free time? Nearly half of all respondents (45%) in a Nielsen global survey of online consumers across 60 countries say that eating healthy is the most important priority after retirement. Other top priorities include staying physically and mentally fit (78%), spending time with family (58%) and maintaining an active social life (37%).

In the Siskel and Ebert era, two thumbs up didn’t just mean that a movie was good. It also meant the movie was worth seeing. Times have changed, and today, movie critics—professional and self-proclaimed—are using their thumbs in other ways to influence moviegoing decisions.

Not all consumers are created equal. In fact, some can be so meaningful from a sales and growth perspective that they’ve been upgraded to “super consumer” status by some researchers and industry observers who realize how meaningful this group can be to companies and brands.

With more people watching and buying online than ever before, advertisers are diving head first into digital to reach their audiences. Online advertising expenditures increased more than 25 percent (26.6%) year-over-year as of the second quarter of 2013 and exceeds several traditional media categories. But are these investments worth their price?

Seventy percent of consumers are already aware of “wearables,” and about one in six (15%) of them currently use wearable tech—such as smart watches and fitness bands—in their daily lives. With experts predicting wearable tech to be the next big thing in consumer electronics, what kinds of gadgets are consumers willing to wear?

The Hispanic radio audience is growing across the U.S., increasing by more than half a million listeners over the past year based on Nielsen’s March 2014 RADAR report. So where is this listening growth coming from?

Times are changing, and today’s digital world is having widespread effects on an array of consumer behaviors, including how we handle our finances. Electronics and mobility are key trends for financial institutions to keep track of, but consumers aren’t ready to sever all ties with their local bank branches just yet.

Three agents of change have affected food retailing in Europe over the last 20 years, and the effects of these factors have culminated in recent times to stifle growth. And how well the CPG industry, particularly in Western Europe, handles the next 12 months or more will hinge on how well companies learn to live with flat—or negative—sales volumes.

Much has been written about the growing wealth and income gap between America’s rich and poor. However, the wealth gap exists not just among individuals, but among entire communities. And we can anticipate where local consumer demand is headed by examining the state of local communities.

For small businesses, the need for a deeper understanding of its customers is growing, and big data can provide that critical insight. And in today’s competitive world, the local bakery needs more than just a fresh croissant waiting for Bill in the morning to keep him loyal.

Radio listeners come in all varieties, and so do their listening preferences. We know that listeners tune in at different times during the day, but we also know they tune in for different reasons. So a big part of radio programming involves determining how to cater to the broader audience while still focusing on core listeners.

There’s no denying the influence that e-commerce is having on the retail landscape, and that influence is starting to go mobile. And as that trend grows, marketers have an opportunity to leverage the influence of consumer preferences.

More than twice as many say people around the world say their ideal retirement age is younger (36%) than what they plan compared to those who say it’s older (17%). So what’s causing the disconnect between wanting and needing to stay employed as we age? It’s likely a matter of finances.

When it comes to measuring success in any industry, there’s no better indicator than sales. The music biz is no exception, as companies continue to worry about the sales cycles associated with specific music singles. When companies focus solely on sales, however, they may miss other opportunities—including the ability to build sales.

Competition for consumers’ wallets is gathering pace as the payment ecosystem evolves. Consumers have an array of choices and considerations at their fingertips, and individual consumer needs vary. Payment preference is not universal, and strategic marketers that know how to drive budding trends—particularly card usage—will be rewarded with loyalty.

Private brand sales accounted for $112 billion in 2013 but have increased just 1 share point since 2009. Amid private brands’ sluggish growth, however, the top 10 retailers have successfully tapped the segment's potential. So what is it about these 10 retailers that make them so successful?

From economics to quality of life, housing can tell us much about the state of Americans today. So having a clear sense of where this market is headed is crucial to understanding consumers. But what does the future hold?

Growing old is a fact of life, and most of us have at least a few concerns about how we’ll manage in our golden years. The biggest fears that the majority of us have pertain to not having the self-reliance it takes to care for our basic needs, losing our physical agility and declining mental competence. So how can industries help?

Sports fans love to follow their favorite games on TV, and their Twitter conversations speak volumes about how much they share their excitement with others. But we can see more than just how many Tweets they’re sending. We can now follow engagement and compare it with engagement levels for other program types.

During the bitter cold-spell sweeping much of the U.S. this winter, more Americans than usual turned to the Internet for entertainment. Four out of-5 U.S. web users access entertainment websites each month, and this January, 167 million Americans visited sites in the entertainment category.

Make no mistake, store brands aren’t what they used to be. Today, U.S. supermarket shoppers spend $1 of every $5 on store brands, and their sales are growing in just about every retail channel. And that spend is having a big impact.

The majority of men and women around the world don’t believe that the sexes are treated the same. And when making financial, technological and retail decisions, they're thinking—and acting—differently.

Despite e-commerce's momentous effect on shopping behavior, it's far from revolutionary; it’s simply an evolution. While many have recognized the opportunities created by new technology, some categories—like consumer packaged goods (CPG)—haven’t capitalized on e-commerce. Nevertheless, CPG manufacturers and retailers can boost sales by engaging with shoppers in new ways and providing unique shopping benefits through their online models.

In today’s digital and social media-driven world, consumers have the world at their fingertips, but are men and women’s fingers doing the same thing? A closer look highlights the differences between what engages men and women—as well as how they react (or don’t) along the way.

From Beck previewing his Morning Phase album for in-flight air travelers to hear via Gogo Inflight Internet before its formal release date to Bruce Springsteen streaming his recent Higher Hopes album more than a week before its release as a promotion for the TV show The Good Wife, there’s more to release dates than a specific date.

Innovation in how we measure mirrors a continuously evolving media landscape. And for the first time in a Cross-Platform Report, Nielsen has migrated the reporting of mobile use and mobile video use from survey-based insights to metered data through electronic mobile measurement.

There’s something interesting happening with men and women and shopping. Women’s incomes are rising around the world, making them a force to be reckoned with. And they’re using their newfound clout to influence purchasing decisions in categories once dominated by men.

Millennials are the social generation, both online and in-person. As the founders of the social media movement, they’re never more than a few clicks away from friends and family. And offline, they prefer to live in dense, diverse urban villages where social interaction is just outside their front doors.

Smartphone ownership grew to 68 percent between November and January 2014, up 9 percent from the start of 2013. And among those who bought their mobile phone within the last three months, a whopping 84 percent chose smartphones for their new handsets.

From TVs to tablets and digital to smartphones, technology is reshaping the way consumers engage with video and, in turn, how media and advertising companies do business. While the online and TV video ad markets will remain separate for the time being, the movement toward integration is real and accelerating.

The video landscape is in a time of major flux, with digital viewing on the rise, advertisers seeking integrated campaigns and yet TV networks still holding most of the cards. But with the emergence of new technologies—and new measurement capabilities—video advertising is poised for change.

Around the globe, aging consumers’ needs are not being fully met. One in five people will be 60 years or older by 2050, and there are regional differences that are important to consider when reaching this valuable consumer segment.

Findings from the Nielsen Global Survey about Aging highlight consumer concerns about growing old and how product and service manufacturers and retailers are meeting the challenges that can arise with age. The findings highlight an array of needed improvements, and the most compelling are included herein.

African-American consumers are more relevant than ever in today’s ever-shifting entertainment market—and their choices are affecting the whole entertainment industry. To capture this influential demographic’s attention, marketers must understand African Americans’ specific tastes and habits to provide content that best suits their interests and needs.

Based on 70 years of watching what consumers experience, and how they buy, how they act and what they do based on their consumption of content, we see a seismic shift coming in the next five years. Nowhere is this more acute than when it comes to television and video consumption.

As a major engine of the U.S. economy, the housing market is steadily watched and analyzed as a barometer for the general wellbeing of the country. Housing, however, isn’t just about economics—or even shelter. It’s a window into the lives of American consumers, and it provides insights that go well beyond home buying and price trends.

Much like the products we buy or the devices we prefer watching content on, services, too, tend to vary according to where we live. According to Nielsen’s 2014 Local Watch Report, this regional consumption of services plays a critical role in the type of healthcare consumers are receiving

While age is just a number, it’s becoming increasingly important to retailers, manufacturers and marketers as shifting population trends favor the elderly. According to new findings from Nielsen, however, industries are largely unprepared to meet the needs of aging consumers.

While the book industry is no stranger to change, the written word remains popular. In 2013, physical book sales stayed strong, with print book consumption only declining slightly from the year before. And while e-book growth slowed and the market has now matured, the innovation is far from over.

2013 was a solid year for the home entertainment industry, as consumer spending across all home entertainment platforms increased by nearly 1 percent—the second straight year of growth in consumer spending on home entertainment.

The world’s population is getting older and many consumers say the world isn’t prepared for the shift. According to the World Health Organization, 2 billion people will be at least 60 years old by 2050, which raises questions and concerns for consumers as well as industries.

Smartphones are beginning to transform how we engage in our everyday lives. Only a few years ago, they were still the minority of mobile phones around the globe, but already they’re beginning to transform how we engage in our everyday lives. Today, they have a much more dominant presence.

Mobile shopping is gaining momentum among U.S. consumers, particularly as smartphone penetration continues to grow and tablet ownership gains in popularity. From researching to price comparing to making purchasing, consumers are steadily increasing their e-commerce prowess via their mobile devices.

To everything there is a season, and the music industry is no different. From holiday hits to summer jams, music trends vary with the weather. And understanding such trends can be crucial to success for artists, retailers and labels. So is there a “perfect” time to release a new album?

The start of a new year inevitably brings new resolutions and, for many, attempts to counter the effects from the holidays. It’s the same for many audio formats, which feel the impact of holiday programming on ratings from Thanksgiving until New Year’s. Radio programmers are now seeing those trends reverse in the results from the first post-holiday ratings book in Nielsen’s portable people meter (PPM) markets.

It takes a lot to define a generation, and no two generations are alike. As much of the world is watching the second-youngest generations develop and become full-fledged consumers, marketers are placing more and more emphasis on how to engage with them. Most are children of Baby Boomers, and all are eager to carve out a unique identity as they come of age.

It takes a lot to define a generation, and no two generations are alike. As much of the world is watching the second-youngest generations develop and become full-fledged consumers, marketers are placing more and more emphasis on how to engage with them. So who are they and why are marketers and brands getting to know them?

How can companies rise above the clutter online and on store shelves to capture an audience that is bombarded with options? It’s all about keeping up with—and in many cases, staying ahead of—consumers. And despite the myriad challenges, it’s not as hard as you think. Consumers are more engaged than ever in this hyper-connected world, and a little innovation and effort to reach them where they already are can bring big results.

Love is in the air and in the entertainment aisle. So as we celebrate Valentine’s Day, let’s look at how romance influences music, books and home entertainment—as well as how consumers respond and engage with it—even on days other than Feb 14.

The 15-second ad is already “the new black,” but it has yet to achieve the same level of audience engagement as its longer predecessors. That said, advertisers must now explore this new frontier further to make short-form ads more effective, regardless of the platform.

It’s no secret that Americans love sports. But much like real relationships, this amour is a sometimes complicated dance between fans, teams and players that can bring immense joy or deep heartbreak. No matter what, however, the love and desire for viewing sports content endures all—even the agony of defeat.

Globally, the middle class is growing rapidly. So can you apply the same strategies to engage the global middle class? Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist for The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen, recently discussed the effect these new technologies could have on the expanding global middle class at The Next Billion: A Forum about the Connected World presented by Quartz.

Consumer confidence in the Middle East/Africa region declined two index points in the fourth quarter of 2013, reporting a score of 90. Three-fourths of regional respondents believed they were in recession in the fourth quarter, a figure that topped the level reported in any other region. The pessimistic sentiment was up 1 percentage point from Q3 and 2 points from the same time period the previous year.

Millennials are some of the most connected consumers in America today. They’re also steady radio listeners. And despite rapidly evolving technology, radio continues to engage an extraordinarily high percentage of Millennials across the country each week.

For many, the answer is yes. In fact, one out of every two people around the world say their preferred payment method for daily spending is plastic rather than paper. Collectively, 54% of respondents from a recent global survey say they prefer using plastic over cash.

The number of digital devices and platforms available to today’s consumers has exploded in recent years. As a result, today’s consumer is more connected than ever, with more access to and deeper engagement with content and brands. And these changes are contributing to the media revolution and blurring traditional media definitions.

At 3,212 feet tall with a plunge of 2,648 feet, Angel Falls in Venezuela isn’t the only part of Latin America with drastic peaks and valleys. Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence shows that consumer confidence sentiment also varied widely in the region.

Technology has changed a lot in the last 30 years—even the last three! In Nielsen’s Digital Consumer Report, we explore this transformation and examine how the everyday lives of consumers are now intertwined with the digital world.

Around the world, Asia-Pacific was the only region where consumer confidence increased quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter of 2013, rising one index point to 105, according to Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence.

In looking at trends shaping up for this year, Nielsen forecasts that global retail sales will be relatively flat, with dollar sales inching up about 1.8 percent. But growth won’t be across the board, as consumer attitudes and preferences have shifted in some areas over the past two years. So where are the key areas for growth?

242 million people listen to the radio each week. But what you may not be conscious of is where and when you’re most likely to tune in to hear your favorite music, news, talk or sports programming… because it depends on your employment status.

Ninety-two percent of the people in the U.S. over the age of 12 (242 million people) listen to the radio each week. But what you may not be conscious of is where and when you’re most likely to tune in to hear your favorite music, news, talk or sports programming…because it depends on your employment status.

Regardless of whether you rooted for the Seahawks or the Broncos, halftime probably offered something for both sides. The Internet is buzzing about Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and their performances have had an effect on music sales and music streaming.

While the entertainment quotient of Super Bowl XLVIII might be in question by some, the fact that the big game is a pillar of American entertainment can’t be disputed. A large contributing factor in that entertainment experience—some might even consider the driving factor—is the ads.

While the economy stabilizes in Europe, consumers have remained wary. Confidence fell in 18 of the region’s 32 markets measured in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence. Nonetheless, the worst may very well be over.

When it comes to U.S. consumer packaged goods, e-commerce is still in its infancy, accounting for roughly 4 percent of total CPG sales. But as companies work to eliminate one of the key barriers to online shopping—having to wait for your purchase—the digital channel will capture a much larger share of sales in the future.

In the U.S. and around the world, fans’ passion for sports continues to grow in 2013. And with the addition of Nielsen Audio and Scarborough to Nielsen’s portfolio last year, our “FANALYTICS” platform—what we refer to as the collective intelligence and insights around sports consumers—continues to evolve, helping our clients gain a deeper understanding of the sports fan.

The “mass affluent” are wealthier than the average Joe but represent just 12 percent of U.S. households, making them notoriously difficult to find and engage. Fortunately, their active online presence presents an intriguing opportunity for marketers to use digital precision marketing to reach this elusive audience while protecting their privacy.

The mass affluent only represent 12 percent of U.S. households, so reaching this highly concentrated group can be difficult. However, the mass affluent have a strong online presence, and digital precision marketing has become an effective way to reach this valuable audience.

There’s nothing quite like watching the Super Bowl—or jumping into the conversation about it on Twitter. And this year’s big game had plenty of action—both on the field and across social media channels.

Canadian consumer confidence increased three index points in the fourth quarter of 2013, reaching the baseline score of 100. The quarterly uptick equalized two previous quarters of declines, bringing the figure in line with the sentiment of 12 months ago. Improved job prospects, personal finances and spending intentions were strong drivers of the hike in consumer confidence for Canadians.

According to preliminary results from Nielsen, the telecast of Super Bowl XLVIII on FOX drew an average audience of 111.5 million viewers, who tuned in to watch the first “cold weather” NFL Championship game.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But when fruit doesn’t cure what ails you, a solid health and wellness plan might just do the trick. China, which is on pace to produce 37.5 million metric tons of apples in 2013, leads the globe in terms of saving for health-related issues (63%), with the greater Asia-Pacific region close behind (55%).

Around the world, shoppers reigned in their discretionary spending at the end of 2013. According to Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence, consumers said they spent less across all categories measured in Q4 2013, compared to Q3.

Football fans are invaluable to their favorite teams, lending their support all season and into the Super Bowl. But which of the super bowl teams' fans give them an edge in the online playing fields? We took a close look at how Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks fans connect with their favorite teams using the Web, mobile, and social media ahead of the big game.

As the debate rages on about the high cost of advertising during the Super Bowl, one thing is certain: big bucks are being spent in attempt to reach the growing audiences and big spenders tuning in on game day. So let’s take a stroll down memory lane and look at some of the ads that have made history over the past five years.

From a gripping show-starter by music’s power-couple Beyoncé and Jay Z, to the historic on-screen wedding (presided over by Queen Latifah and Madonna), this year’s 56th GRAMMY Awards found new ways to surprise, electrify and get its audience talking. In the few hours of performances and awards, music devotees were exposed to some of the best in the industry. But did the most consumed artists end up with the awards?

Energy consumption has been a factor for consumers since the dawn of modern civilization, but in a world of rapidly advancing technology and environmental awareness, it’s never been as topical as it is today. And while consumers are tuned in, they’re more often motivated by price than environmental impact.

Few people have the luxury of taking in the Super Bowl in person, which makes the big game one of the biggest television events every year. It’s also one of the biggest occasions to throw a party. And this year, Americans aren’t holding back in terms of how and where they plan to relish the key matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.

Energy consumption has been a factor for consumers since the dawn of modern civilization, but in a world of rapidly advancing technology and environmental awareness, it’s never been as topical as it is today. So, are consumers tuned in, and how are they approaching their own energy usage and the impact that has on the world they live in?

Industry and Services and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) advertising continued their reigns as the macro sectors with the highest percentage growth during the first three quarters of 2013, according to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report.

While consumers are more engaged with food than ever, many have less time for planning and preparing home cooked meals. Growing hunger for convenience—a broad and evolving need—will continue to affect the entire store in 2014.

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 President Barack Obama delivered his second State of the Union address for his second term in office. The sum of the average audience for the networks that carried it live and tape-delayed was 33,299,172 viewers with a combined household rating of 20.7.

Working Moms—the 40 percent of women who have children under age 18 and have full-time jobs—are affluent consumers with limited free time. So how to you reach them? By making their lives easier and anticipating their needs and interests.

By kickoff time this Sunday, football fans and casual observers everywhere will be settling in to watch or listen to Super Bowl XLVIII, an unrivaled broadcasting spectacle in American sporting culture. Yet despite the size of the event has become, there’s still nothing quite like the connection between fans and the local markets.

Watching content on a local level has a unique effect—it connects us to our communities, while it informs us and empowers us as participants in the close-knit fabric of our daily lives. As marketers and media companies explore ways to reach consumers in new and exciting ways, we offer a look into unique characteristics and trends in local markets.

Sure, dogs have been well-established as man’s best friend for some time now, but according to the January 2014 Local Watch Report, Americans have a blossoming love affair with another trusty sidekick—the mobile device.

Global consumer confidence held steady with an index of 94 at the end of 2013, rounding out three consecutive quarters at that confidence level. Discretionary spending declined in all regions, many regions still feel mired in recession, and Asia-Pacific posted the only regional consumer confidence increase in Q4.

As we prepare for this year’s big game and even bigger ads, let’s take a quick look back and commemorate those titans of the ad industry that have consistently proven that they’ve got the creative mojo to score big. And as kick-off approaches, we’re kicking off the Super Bowl Advertiser Hall of Fame because for many, the game is as much about the ads as the game itself.

Global consumer confidence held steady in Q4 2013 with an index of 94, marking the third straight quarter where confidence was at that level. Global confidence was one point higher at year end than it was at the beginning of the year and three points higher than in Q4 2012.

How prepared are we for a broken water heater or an air conditioner on the fritz? To help understand how consumers around the world save and invest for household emergencies, Nielsen conducted a global study about current and future financial goals and the strategies we use to prepare for them.

According to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report, ad spend by media type continued on trend through the first three quarters of 2013, with television and display Internet advertising leading the charge globally.

The GRAMMY Awards are the music industry’s biggest night—and last year, over 28 million viewers in the U.S. tuned into the 55th show. The show exposes a huge concentration of engaged listeners to some of the newest leaders in music—and can have a enormous impact on sales.

The holidays may seem like a distant memory now. However, before you start breaking your new resolutions, let’s recap the impact of Nielsen’s holiday ratings book, which spanned the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas when holiday programming fills the audio spectrum all across the country.

Advertising during the Super Bowl requires very deep pockets, as the average 30-second spot cost marketers well over $3 million the last two years. And the stakes for those dollars are just as big, considering that viewership routinely tops the hundred-million viewer mark.

Global advertising spend has continued to climb, gaining 3.2 percent in the third quarter year-over-year. This quarter's growth likely reflects Asia Pacific's expanding powerhouse ad market. As this market continues to gain momentum, Nielsen will be watching to see if the global advertising market will continue to pick up speed through the close of 2013.

Regardless of where we live or how much money we have in the bank, staying on track to reach our financial goals takes a dedicated commitment. And when it comes to saving for retirement, many global consumers are putting that commitment on hold for the time being.

From being a symbol of freedom to a way to get from point A to point B, cars capture the heart of millions. In fact, 65 percent of Internet respondents across 60 countries are planning to buy a new or used car in the next two years, according to findings from a recent Nielsen global survey.

From toe-tapping hits to head-bobbing beats, music speaks to people’s souls. But ever-evolving technologies are changing music consumption—and in 2013, those entertainers who reimagined music within new and old formats reaped some of the biggest benefits.

Over the past 15 years, e-commerce has grown significantly but remains just below 6 percent of total commerce. So why does it feel like a lot more when we consider the droves of shoppers who are always on their computers and smartphones? According to Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist for The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen, consumers' expectations have evolved.

There’s no shortage of people tweeting about live TV these days—it’s a digital phenomenon and picking up speed. In 2013 alone, 36 million people sent 990 Million Tweets about TV. But until now, we haven’t known how many people tweet about TV and brands— critical information for advertisers who want to benefit from Twitter TV activity to amplify brand messages.

Managing money can be difficult no matter where we live, and in many cases, it feels like we spend our cash before we earn it. In fact, Nielsen reports that globally, we save or invest just 10 percent of our monthly income on average. But is that enough?

Managing money can be difficult no matter where we live, and in many cases, it feels like we spend our cash before we earn it. In fact, Nielsen reports that globally, we save or invest just 10 percent of our monthly income on average. But is that enough?

From must-see movies to purchasing popcorn, people's preferences at the theater differ depending on who you talk to--and that inlcudes those who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Studios and theaters alike can bolster box office sales by identifying this group's different cinematic preferences and tailoring their promotions and offering to LGBT moviegoers' entertainment needs.

“Want to see a movie?” The answer will differ based on personal preference. And according to Nielsen’s State of the LGBT Moviegoer report, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) moviegoers make different choices at the box-office than their heterosexual counterparts.

When it comes to online shopping for cosmetics, Chinese consumers take their time and cover all the bases before they make their purchases. And in addition to spending hours looking for the right products and deals, their paths to purchase often include actively engaging and interacting with brands and online communities before they open their wallets.

When it comes to radio ratings, programmers are consistently focused on determining which listener group is the most influential. After all, appealing to the audience with the biggest influence is the best way to ensure a high-performing station.

In order to keep up with busy consumers, retailers are increasingly finding that they need to innovate in ways that make it easier and more convenient for their customers to get what they need and not miss a beat in the process. Channel and format are the stand-out examples of innovation in retail, but they’re certainly not the only ones.

Over the past decade, innovations have changed consumers’ behaviors and, consequently, retailers’ responses to their needs. Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist for The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen, recently discussed the effect these new technologies could have on global consumers and commerce.

Two-fifths of Americans visited food and cooking websites in November, up 2 million unique visitors from October. And regardless of which sites they visited, 86 million consumers spent an average of 25 minutes using these websites—just long enough to prepare or cook a meal.

Shoppers never stop shopping, and retailers must evolve to stay ahead of the pack and keep consumers engaged. And today, brick-and-mortar stores need to innovate continually to compete with e-commerce's growing appeal and loosen consumers still firm grip on on their wallets.

The need to differentiate from the competition is as great as it has ever been. For stores to stay ahead, they need to encourage consumers to increase the number of trips, grow the size of their basket, or both.

For mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong, shopping is a key activity that nine in 10 tourists enjoy. A recent report by Nielsen, however, finds that mainland visitors are coming to Hong Kong less frequently, staying for shorter periods, and spending less on shopping, compared to last year. Nevertheless, accessibility to Hong Kong continues to grow.

Every day counts for radio broadcasters who are trying to maximize their audiences. Peak listening across the country happens at the end of the week, and stations can always find ways to tweak their programming to boost listenership.

Everybody needs to eat, but rising food prices may cause consumers to change their shopping habits—and limit their discretionary spending—to put food on the table. In Ireland, two-thirds of respondents (66%) to a recent report indicate they cannot afford a rise in food prices without making difficult choices elsewhere.

Advertising times have changed for e-commerce dealers in Italy. While online purveyors have taken their advertising messages offline in many regions around the globe, particularly in the U.S., the trend is starting to pick up in Italy. And what’s more, e-commerce dealers are increasing their ad spending while many others are pulling back.

There’s no mistaking the impact the holidays have on consumer behavior: they inspire goodwill toward one another, trigger a fervent rash of consumerism and prompt us to swill egg-based cocktails. And with Christmas just one day away, holiday music has overtaken the radio airwaves to put millions of Americans in the spirit of the season before the dawn of a New Year.

The media and marketing landscape in Australia has evolved at a rapid pace in a very short period. In fact, when we look at how consumers obtained information and engaged with brands 10 years ago, it’s as if we’re looking at an entirely different industry playing field today.

While the holidays are a boon for radio, programmers shouldn’t forget their every-day strategies for keeping listeners coming back for more. One solution we discussed from many different angles this year was how important the number of days of listening is to ratings in Nielsen’s PPM measured markets.

There’s only so much ice skating, tree trimming and fun in the snow when kids are off from school before families hit the movies, and a recent report from Nielsen examines how families with children aged 6 to 11 experience the thrills of the silver screen.

As mobile device and service availability increase, particularly in developing markets, more and more consumers are experiencing the freedom to surf the Web and stay connected wherever their days take them.

Consumers love choices—and Video-On-Demand (VOD) gives them the option to choose what and when to watch. As VOD continues to take an increasing slice of the TV pie, a new Nielsen study found that marketers can take advantage of viewers’ growing taste for this menu-driven content.

In today’s complex media environment, TV advertisers are tasked with finding creative ways to break through and engage viewers. So how do some ads captivate viewer while thousands of others are readily disregarded? To gain insight, we identified the top 10 commercials and branded integrations of 2013.

Over the last few years, premiere sports and special events have dominated Nielsen’s top telecasts list, and the list in 2013 was no different. Different from previous years, however, was the first inclusion of social ranks.

As more Web users shift to mobile and tablet screens, Web activity using computer browsers declined slightly among the top 10 websites in 2013. Online video viewing, however, continued to grow, and YouTube remained the top source for streaming, as 128 million Americans viewed video content on the site each month.

As Americans search through an array of electronic and connected devices for holiday gifts, Nielsen took a look at how ownership of devices has changed over the last few years and what consumer have in their homes today.

Gone are the days of spending the holidays staring into the warm blaze of a crackling fireplace or gazing through the oven window to watch the sugar cookies rise. Today, we look elsewhere for our holiday entertainment.

As the blanket of Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotions increases, the relative newsworthiness of individual promotion-touting ads decreases. This ups the challenge for marketers with respect to creating strong ad memorability and brand identity. Even in the face of these challenges, however, some 2013 Black Friday/Cyber Monday ads performed at above-average rates.

As we head into the holiday season, everyone has that friend or relative who poses a tricky gift-giving conundrum. This year, consumer insights from Scarborough encourage shoppers to think about their gift recipients in terms of consumer groups like working moms, sports fans, arts enthusiasts, connected consumers and status seekers.

To accurately affect the behavior of the U.S.’s diverse shoppers, marketers need to understand distinct preferences for by demographic, category, and retail channel. The new Nielsen Category Shopping Fundamentals study explores the varied mindsets of today’s U.S. shoppers when it comes to making purchases for their everyday needs.

While the Indian economy boasted a 9 percent boost in GDP during its 2007-2011 fiscal years, the last two years have been a different story. In fact, India has been staring down the barrel of a severe economic crunch. But the horizon appears brighter, which should provide relief for India’s FMCG market.

Even if you’ve got your earmuffs on, you can probably still hear the holiday marketing blitz ramping up for the season. It’s Christmas time and the sights and sounds of the holidays are ringing across our screens and through our speakers.

When consumers head out for their everyday shopping needs, are they navigating the store on auto-pilot or are they open to new products and experiences? As with many of the puzzles marketers face, the answer here is anything but clear-cut. And in looking at recent consumer engagement data across 100 FMCG categories in the U.S., the behavior here is quite varied.

Today, Canada is home to 6.8 million foreign-born residents, and that shift is worth noting for any marketer interested in ways to make products and services that cater to Canada’s evolving demographic landscape.

As the fastest growing multicultural segment in the U.S. with an outsized impact on the consumer marketplace, Asian Americans have emerged as a powerful economic force. The group’s buying behaviors and viewing patterns, however, are different and unique from the total population.

Today’s consumers face a growing array of devices and ways to encounter content–giving them the choice to connect anytime, anywhere. Given that more than 90 percent of Americans tune in to the radio each week, understanding how this fits into consumers’ total engagement will help marketers best reach their audience.

Diversifying palates and a focus on health in North America are driving increased demand for a range of atypical meats at the dinner table, introducing an element of adventure along the way. In year ended June 29, 2012, sales of not-so-typical meats grew an average of 6 percent in the U.S. and rang up more than $350 million in combined sales.

Asian Americans have emerged as a powerful economic force. By building on the group's heritage, academic achievement, adaptability and spending clout, businesses can find considerable growth opportunities among these consumers.

More than 90 percent of Americans turn on the radio each week. Capturing these listeners in total audience measurement will allow marketers to get closer to understanding their shoppers’ daily lives and how to best engage them.

Visible minorities in Canada have potential to bring an additional $5 billion to Canadian manufacturers in the next four years. They will also double and increase to almost one-third of the country’s population in the next two decades. A recent webinar dove into the details behind the ethnic consumers who are changing the Canadian mosaic.

The U.S. market has been tough recently on many of the big consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, after many years during which the leading players typically fared quite well. The advantage the leaders historically derived from their scale and scope is no longer what it once was, leaving big companies wondering how to adjust.

With Thanksgiving officially in the rearview mirror, the airwaves over the next five weeks will undoubtedly have a different ring to them than they did the rest of the year. It’s the holidays, which means that all of the traditions, habits and lifestyle changes that we’re accustomed to this time of year will quickly take center stage—including what we listen to on the radio.

How do you keep your customers satisfied and coming back to your store for more? New findings from a recent survey showed that retailer loyalty program participants valued discounted or free products. But if membership isn’t free and easy--or the benefits aren’t clear--there's a good chance consumers won't join.

Call of Duty may only be a game, but the battle between console manufactures for consumers’ time and money is anything but—especially with the holiday shopping season officially upon us. So which consoles and titles do gamers have their eyes on?

September was a busy month for sports fans. Sports websites attracted more than 87 million Americans and 36 million smartphone owners tapped into the action using a sports app. And that audience is a big opportunity for advertisers.

The line between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is blurring, as many U.S. consumers are going online for holiday deals on the biggest shopping day of the year for brick-and-mortar retailers. While shopping tendencies among all consumers didn’t shift dramatically between 2011 and 2012, there were some significant changes among multicultural consumers.

The shopper and retailer landscape in Asia-Pacific has been shifting on a fundamental level over the past decade, but we’ve also seen marked changes over the past year. While less-recent changes have particularly centered around drivers of store choice, newer shifts are reflective of much different attributes.

In a digital world where the entire entertainment industry is scrambling to engage with fans, the music app is coming to the rescue. There’s no silver bullet or blueprint for guaranteed success in the app realm, which is why understanding how to use them effectively is so critical.

There’s no time like the holidays for lavish feasts and decadent treats, which means it’s time for consumers to start decking their fridges and pantries with food for year-end entertaining. And when December hits, shoppers up the ante when it comes to stocking their baskets with fresh foods.

Marketers who can connect with sports fans have a captive audience. That’s because sports fans are connected and passionate when they’re engaged. And for sports like football, which compete with the holiday shopping season for attention, it’s crucial to deliver the right message in the right environment at the right time.

U.S. music fans actually favor brands that engage them through their favorite tunes, according to Nielsen’s Music 360 report. And brands are using music as a way to connect with their consumers now more than ever.

Disturbing a sports fanatic while they’re watching a game isn’t normally a good idea. That’s because sports fans are connected and passionate when they’re engaged. But a major consumer electronics manufacturer found that disruptive advertising was the perfect way to increase purchase intent among avid football fans.

U.S. retailers have long considered Black Friday the unofficial start of the critical holiday selling season, but 85 percent of consumers plan on skipping the stores on Black Friday this year. However, A whopping 88 percent of consumers said they will use their computers again this year to do their Cyber Monday shopping.

Second-screen usage is the latest way consumers engage with television content. This is good news for brands and advertisers because the additional exposure across screens is having a big impact on ad effectiveness.

The right price often makes the difference between a sale and a switch. In fact, across five different product or service attributes analyzed in a Nielsen Global Survey of Loyalty Sentiment, offering the best price held the most persuasive power to motivate consumers to swap devotion to a brand, service provider or retailer.

Integrated multi-screen campaigns are important today in effectively delivering a marketing message. However, client-side marketers, agencies and media sellers expect that importance to grow dramatically more important three years from now.

Advertisers agree that integrated multi-screen campaigns are going to become vastly more important in the next three years. They also plan to increase their spending on these types of campaigns. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness in these efforts, however, advertisers need to measure audience delivery, brand lift and sales impact with common metrics across screens.

Earning consumer devotion to a brand or store takes more than just offering a good product. That’s why getting to the heart of what makes a consumer stick or switch can be the difference between flourishing and fading.

Even though technology is rapidly changing the way consumers listen to radio, traditional tune-in remains strong and vibrant. Tech advances like satellite stations and online streaming services have certainly gained the spotlight in recent years, but terrestrial radio continues to attract the biggest audience.

Earning consumer devotion to a brand or store takes more than just offering a good product. Price, packaging, customer service and reputation are just some of the factors involved in a consumer’s decision-making process. But getting to the heart of what makes a consumer stick or switch can be the difference between flourishing and fading.

Europe’s most troubled economies reported good news in the third quarter, as consumer confidence increased in Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain, according the Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence.

Innovation isn’t easy. Globally, at least 90 percent of new product introductions fail in the year they launch. India is often viewed as a hotbed of innovation, but truth be told, the odds of launching a breakthrough success in this market may not be meaningfully better than anywhere else in the world.

New business brings new opportunity, and Nielsen Audio, acquired at the end of September 2013, is doing just that. Today, Nielsen is sharing with clients and the industry the first in a series of investments we’ll be making in our newly acquired audio business in the second half of 2014.

There’s nothing like seeing the big picture or having everything you need right in front of you. And when it comes to insights into what consumers are watching and buying, everything you need is now right at your fingertips.

Planning for the future grew in importance around the world in the third quarter, as more global consumers expressed a focus on saving and investing than they did three months earlier. According to Nielsen’s latest Global Survey of Consumer Confidence, more than half of global respondents said they are putting spare cash into savings, and one-fourth said they are investing in shares of stocks and mutual funds.

Retailers are already rolling out their holiday promotions, and those efforts appear to be working, as nearly one quarter of U.S. consumers have started their holiday shopping. Holiday shoppers can also be notorious procrastinators, as 60 percent say they will wait a bit before they start their shopping. So what does this mean for U.S. retail sales this year?

Reticent consumers are eager to open up their wallets, but they know that global economic conditions are still fragile. Backed by growing optimism, discretionary spending intentions around the world increased across all categories measured in the third quarter compared with those three months earlier.

When economic times are tough, consumers around the world adopt consistent strategies to cut back and save money, but understanding market-by-market tactical variations is essential. Understanding brand position and the retail demand landscape allows companies to adjust strategies and tactics in order to protect profitable shoppers.

Whether browsing the news headlines about international news, U.S. politics, or the latest tech gadgets, 111 million Americans visited News websites in September 2013. That’s more than half of the Americans (54%) who were active on the Web.

All music lovers have at least one album in their collection that they know all the words to, just like movie buffs have that one DVD that seems to spend more time in the player than it does in its case. While these titles aren’t always traditional cult classics, their followings have become cult-like over time.

There’s no mistaking the impact that a change in seasons has on consumer behavior. And in looking at Nielsen’s portable people meter ratings each month, it’s clear that seasonality affects what audiences are listening to on the radio as well.

Football and wings go hand-in-hand, and for Buffalo Wild Wings it’s one of the busiest times of the year. So the 2012 season, Buffalo Wild Wings saw football as the perfect opportunity to implement a cross-device advertising campaign to capture more consumer time and drive in-store traffic.

Football season and wings go hand-in-hand, and for Buffalo Wild Wings, it’s one of the busiest times of the year. And for the 2012 season, Buffalo Wild Wings saw football season as the perfect opportunity to implement a cross-device advertising campaign to capture more consumer time and drive in-store traffic.

Global consumer confidence measured an index level of 94 in Q3 2013, flat from Q2, but sentiment brightened notably in the U.S. and Europe. In the latest round of the survey, consumer confidence increased in more than half (57%) of the markets Nielsen measures, compared with 45% in the previous quarter.

Global consumer confidence measured an index level of 94 in Q3 2013, flat from Q2, but sentiment brightened notably in the U.S. and Europe. In the latest round of the survey, consumer confidence increased in 57% of the markets Nielsen measures, up from 45% in the previous quarter.

As summer vacations drew to a close and as students headed back to school, more than one out of nine mobile subscribers replaced/upgraded their handsets (11%) during Q3 2013, and nearly fourth-fifths chose smartphones. For those keeping track of the U.S. smartphone market, the Q3 increase brings smartphone penetration to 64.7 percent.

Modern technology affords massive flexibility in a new age of how consumers watch video. It also led to audience fragmentation and challenges regarding how to value content. Many of those challenges however, go away this November.

What’s the most influential group of listeners when it comes to radio ratings? For radio programmers, the questions don’t get much bigger. Intuitively, it would seem like the power listeners would fit the bill. Surprisingly, however, there’s more influence in the middle of the road than at the extremes.

At their core, musicians are entertainers. The same can be said for actors and actresses. And the underlying creative talents of these individuals can often lend themselves to successful projects outside the realms where they initially claimed their fame.

Central Europe is often viewed as a collection of similar countries, but the reality is that they each have their own unique characteristics and demographics. So companies looking to appeal to the region’s consumers need to have a good understanding of the whole region as well as the individual countries.

Nowadays, an Internet browser and a smartphone allow an on-air talent to be an information curator, with vast quantities of data instantly at the ready. But is it too much information? Or, at least so much that it’s more difficult than ever to determine what’s most relevant to deliver to your listeners?

The need to be spend-thrifty is rising among Egyptian consumers. And amid tough economic times, consumers are changing their shopping habits, particularly with respect to the size of the packages they purchase.

Today’s urban Indian male has become quite the shopper. Not only has rapid growth and urbanization spawned a new class of consumers with money to spend, but Indian men are increasingly embracing the idea of fashion as a means of self-expression—and they’re enjoying the shopping experience.

Marketers continue to gradually increase their global ad spending, as expenditures grew 3.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 and 3.5 percent on a year-over-year basis for the January-June periods of 2013 and 2012.

Marketers continue to gradually increase their global ad spending, as expenditures grew 3.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 and 2.8 percent on a year-over-year basis for the January-June periods of 2013 and 2012, according to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report.

As consumers, U.S. Latinas are readily using digital platforms to steer their decision-making—both online and off. Eight out of 10 Latinas are using online information to make decisions about buying products on the Web, three-fourths are using it to make day-to-day decisions or as a lifestyle guide through big events, and two-thirds are using it to guide their in-store retail purchases.

There’s no denying the popularity of pizza, especially when it’s National Pizza Month in the U.S. And when you consider the size of this $40 billion pie, that’s a ton of slices. In fact, Americans consume 350 slices per second.

Earlier this year, Nielsen started its own scientific inquiry with the Digital Program Ratings pilot, and we had two main hypotheses to test: program audience should be predictive of campaign audience and program audiences are likely to skew younger online than on TV. Here’s what we learned.

With the rise in influence of the Hispanic consumer, the Hispanic sports fan in the U.S. is quickly becoming a driving force in terms of viewership. Consequently, it’s also become a coveted demo for advertisers to reach.

Over 52 million strong, Latinos are affecting every aspect of the national landscape—pop culture, the workforce, consumption, politics and America’s identity as a nation. And from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the Latino culture and heritage, as well as the contributions U.S. Hispanics have made to the nation.

No matter how they create it, an artist’s persona is everything—and they convey it in everything they do. And in the music business, things can change pretty quickly, so when artists change their personas, consumption changes as well.

With the global middle class growing by 70 million each year, and food prices expected to more than double within 20 years, the world is entering an unprecedented period of rising demand, economic pressure and aspirationally driven buying behavior.

With the global middle class growing by 70 million each year, and food prices expected to more than double within the next two decades, the world is entering an unprecedented period of rising demand, economic pressure and aspirationally driven buying behavior.

The prevailing weak economic landscape has had an impact on the life insurance industry in India, as the overall intent to purchase polices has taken a hit. Even so, however, Nielsen’s findings showed that life insurance penetration in India is up this year and is attracting a younger consumer base.

Over the past two years, the growth in Twitter activity around TV shows has been nothing short of remarkable. Tweets about live TV and the number of Twitter authors talking about TV programming are both increasing in double-digit fashion, steadily broadening the landscape at a record pace.

While it’s immensely challenging to develop and deliver innovative products and services in today’s world, it’s impossible to do so if a company actually believes it’s not capable of delivering a breakthrough.

As advertisers aim to stand out in today’s fragmented media landscape, advertising is only part of the formula for reaching consumers. Creating a memorable brand identity by resonating with consumers is just as important, and some messages resonate better than others.

Pumpkin is everywhere these days. From your neighborhood coffee house to your local grocery store, this palate-pleasing player has spread like wildfire throughout restaurants and stores this season, and seemingly earlier than last year.

The frequency of certain ailments is rising in India, such as common colds and headaches. At the same time, consumers are becoming more inclined to battle their ailments themselves, seeking over-the-counter (OTC) remedies and medicines rather than checking in with their doctors and caregivers.

People around the world believe in their local education programs, predominantly those that pertain to the primary (grades 1-8) and secondary (grades 9-12) levels, according to online respondents to a Nielsen global survey on education attainment.

As technology continues to shape the way consumers access entertainment, it’s important to keep up with how Hispanics interact with TV programming, music, and games. Here, we take a look at some current trends and highlight why the entertainment industry should be taking notes.

Hispanics are avid moviegoers. They’re also very adaptive in using new technologies and platforms, which puts them ahead of the curve when it comes to trying things like movies in the cloud and downloading movies.

Consumer willingness to take action as a result of exposure to a specific message is good proxy for how effective an ad is, and, according to Nielsen’s Trust In Advertising report, trust and action often go hand in hand.

Even though the Great Recession officially ended in mid-2009, 72 percent of global consumers say they feel like they’re still in a recession—a feeling that’s having a lasting effect on their shopping behaviors.

Companies around the world appear to be getting more involved in educational development initiatives, and consumers are taking notice. Companies support educational initiatives for a variety of reasons, such as altruism, talent pipeline development and brand reputation, all of which make can them more attractive to consumers.

There’s no doubt that online advertising has seen tremendous growth in recent years, but advertisers and publishers alike are still unsure if their campaigns are successfully reaching their desired audiences.

With a current buying power of $1 trillion that is forecasted to reach $1.3 trillion dollars by the year 2017, the importance of connecting with African-American consumers is more important than ever. Importantly, these consumers are distinct from other consumer groups, and understanding them is critical to making lasting connections.

With a current buying power of $1 trillion that is forecasted to reach $1.3 trillion dollars by the year 2017, the importance of connecting with African-American consumers is more important than ever. Importantly, these consumers are distinct from other consumer groups, and understanding them is critical to making lasting connections.

New streaming devices and services make it easy for consumers to watch as much as they want whenever they want. And according to Nielsen’s 2013 Over-the-Top Video Analysis, viewers are streaming video at a breakneck pace.

We know viewers tweet during live TV, but there’s still much to learn about the relationship between TV viewing and social media usage. For example, are people tweeting while a show unfolds—during the actual minutes of a program—or are they reserving their tweets for the commercial breaks?

Whether it’s advertising via old standbys like TV, newspapers and radio or newer media like mobile and online, earning consumer trust is the holy grail of a successful campaign, according to Nielsen’s latest Trust In Advertising report.

Between June and August, 15 percent of smartphone owners said they acquired their handset within the last three months, bringing smartphone penetration up to 64 percent of mobile phone owners in the U.S.

Smartphone penetration in the Asia-Pacific region is booming. So it's more critical than ever for companies to develop sophisticated mobile strategies designed to leverage changing connected device behaviors and cultivate ongoing consumer engagement.

Whether it’s advertising via old standbys like TV, newspapers and radio or newer media like mobile and online, earning consumer trust is the holy grail of a successful campaign. The good news for advertisers is that consumers around the globe are more trusting now than they were several years ago.

Hunger is a huge issue in today’s world, and you might be surprised to know that it’s just as much a problem in developed countries as it is in emerging ones. But with a little insight, we're helping map the meal gap.

Better employment and higher salaries go hand in hand with education, according to three-quarters of online respondents to a Nielsen global survey. Respondents in India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and China were among those that felt most strongly about the link between education and career success.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, President Obama addressed the nation, detailing his positions and strategies for how the U.S. might best handle the ongoing turmoil in Syria. The sum of the average audience across various TV networks was 32,301,139 viewers, with a combined household rating of 21.0.

There’s no denying the emotional power of music, and music’s ability to move people at an emotional level makes it a great vehicle to inspire in ways that words alone can’t. And in that way, the pairing of music and social causes creates a perfect duet with the power to create a long-lasting moving emotional connection with listeners.

We are proud to continue our Lessons in Innovation Leadership series with a Q&A with Sanjiv Kakkar, Executive Vice President of Unilever Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. This series showcases experienced business leaders who have led, and learned from, significant innovation initiatives.

The road to better jobs, more money and improved lifestyles is all paved by education. More than three-quarters of global online respondents agree that receiving a higher education, such as college, is important and three-fourths believe educational opportunities can lead to better employment and higher income.

While the DVR has become a staple in 50 percent of U.S. homes and has helped changed the way consumers watch video, it’s not the only way consumers can watch on their own terms. Homes without the additional hardware can also watch on their own terms thanks to expanding VOD accessibility.

While the DVR has helped change the way we watch video, it’s not the only way consumers can watch on their own terms. Homes without the additional hardware are just as able to enjoy the experience of watching on their own time and at their own leisure thanks to expanding VOD accessibility.

The path to purchase for innovation in Asia is a long one, as consumers are typically wary of new products and services. Given the rise in innovation in Asia and existing consumer tendencies regarding new products, Nielsen has identified five key ways to succeed with innovation in Asia.

The path to purchase for innovation in Asia is a long one, as consumers are typically wary of new products and services. Given the rise in innovation in Asia and existing consumer tendencies regarding new products, Nielsen has identified five key ways to succeed with innovation in Asia.

Over the next five years, TV stations will produce fewer hours of news for their linear, broadcast channels and increase their focus on mobile platforms for news delivery. To fill their programming gaps, broadcast stations will experiment more with other types of local programming such as talk shows, variety shows, and local sports in efforts to draw wider audiences.

A product launch is a critical time to drive awareness and brand favorability—even more so when focusing the launch on a specific market. So as it prepared to launch its Starbucks Refreshers, Starbucks teamed up with SheKnows.com in order to connect with an ideal audience for its launch.

A product launch is a critical time to drive awareness and brand favorability—even more so when focusing the launch on a specific market. So as it prepared to launch its Starbucks Refreshers, Starbucks teamed up with SheKnows.com in order to connect with an ideal audience for its launch.

There’s no shortage of ways for consumers to spend their time online, but retail shopping was among the more popular options in July 2013. Preparing for back-to-school and shopping for their everyday needs, nearly 110 million Americans visited retailers’ websites in July.

Outside of the traditional standards, today’s biggest artists are performing at live sporting events, revising their original songs to be more sports themed and helping launch seasons with their performances.

As any parent can tell you, kids love touchscreen devices. And Nielsen’s quarterly Connected Devices Report found that during Q1 2013 more than three-quarters of tablet-owning parents (78%) let their kids under age 11 play with tablets in their homes.

Consumers around the world are interested in companies that have implemented programs to give back to society, and the numbers are growing. And that interest is translating into a willingness to spend more on products and services from companies that give back to society.

Music and movie scenes are as about compatible as peanut butter and jelly. Case in point: Titanic and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” or Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and The Bodyguard – how could you possibly hear the song without thinking of the movie?

Female empowerment is growing across Asia as women secure better and more independent incomes, higher education and gender equality. In tandem, women’s spending power has increased exponentially in recent years, which will likely benefit a number of sectors, particularly grocery retailers and FMCG manufacturers.

While India’s retail industry continues to scale new heights each year, the private-label area in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) arena has shown incredible consistency and potential. In fact, Nielsen estimates that India’s private-label market will grow fivefold to reach the USD half billion mark by 2015.

With the increasing number of supermarkets across the Philippines, Filipino shopping habits are shifting: shoppers are making “top-up” shopping trips in supermarkets more frequently, and visiting the supermarket more frequently is becoming the norm.

Somewhere between traditional corporate philanthropy and the emerging shared-value ideal, brands around the globe continue to align business and social interests through cause-marketing opportunities—using social and environmental efforts to increase consumer engagement.

The demand to measure the return on investment for marketing spending accurately has never been greater. Big data holds the keys to this kingdom, but harnessing and utilizing an overabundance of quality data has not historically been an easy feat.

As energy drinks continue their reign as one of fastest growing beverage categories, up 40 percent from 2010 to 2012, there is a surprising consumer audience that has been largely on the sidelines in the energy drink market—until now: busy young mothers.

Companies looking for consumers with a social conscience—or those who are willing to pay extra for products and services that give back to society—will have an easier time finding eager consumers in India and the Philippines than in Russia, Belgium or Estonia.

Consumer confidence increased in four of six Middle East/Africa markets, boosting the regional average by six index points in the second quarter, which came after an 11-point regional index decline in the first quarter, according to findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions.

A good movie doesn’t end, it becomes a brand. Studios, labels and publishers are continuously looking for ways to leverage the success of a film across other entertainment platforms. So “How does a movie establish itself as a brand powerful enough to warrant direct-to-disc productions?”

Consumers are branching out to new screens and increasing the number of media hours in their days—and marketers are following suit. La Quinta Inns & Suites—whose core consumer is the 25-64 year-old male business traveler—recently turned to Nielsen to measure its latest cross-screen campaign, and the effort yielded five-star results.

Consumers are branching out to new screens and increasing the number of media hours in their days—and marketers are following suit. Advertising on digital media is growing by leaps and bounds, with online video and mobile experiencing the highest year-over-year increases.

Consumer confidence in Latin America decreased for the second consecutive quarter in Q2 2013, declining one index point to a score of 93 from 94 in Q1. Brazil led the region with the highest index of 110, which was down two points from the prior quarter. Positive sentiment was reported in Peru (99) and Colombia (87), where confidence increased one and seven index points, respectively.

The concept of corporate social responsibility isn’t new, but there are varied approaches companies can take when they make an effort to benefit society at large. And models of corporate responsibility continue to evolve, particularly as consumers become increasingly interested in the social responsibilities of the companies behind the products and services they buy.

Twitter has become a popular destination where fans can talk about their favorite TV shows in real-time. But do tweets drive consumers to tune-in to a program, or are viewers just chatting about shows they’re already watching?

Do consumers care if the companies they buy products and services from are socially responsible? The models that companies adopt for their corporate social responsibility efforts continue to evolve, but what impact do the varied strategies have on consumer sentiment?

More consumers than ever are staying connected using smartphones, but which handsets are they choosing? The answers are as diverse as this still-growing segment, which accounted for 62 percent of mobile subscribers in the U.S. as of Q2 2013.

Consumer confidence in the Asia-Pacific region remained high in the second quarter, as seven markets reported indexes above the 100 baseline, according to findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions.

Most consumers don’t see enough benefits from mobile payment programs to give up their cash or plastic—despite technological advancements or broad availability. At best, marginally better transaction speeds that typically accompany these digitized payments are quickly outweighed by shortcomings in other areas.

Hispanic women are a key growth engine of the U.S. female population and are expected to become 30 percent of the total female population by 2060, while the non-Hispanic white female population is expected to drop to 43 percent.

Hispanic women are gaining prominence in the U.S. and are becoming a strong influence on the mainstream economy. With 52 million in the U.S. population, Hispanics collectively have an impressive buying power of $1.2 trillion. Within the overall Hispanic demographic, however, Latinas are the ones in the driver’s seat.

From apps that provide first dibs on a highly anticipated album to personalized videos on Vine, music fans are getting the VIP treatment these days, as artists, labels and brands alike are coming up with creative ways to engage and reward them.

A good movie doesn’t end, it becomes a brand. Studios, labels and publishers are continuously looking for ways to leverage the success of a film across other entertainment platforms. So “How does a movie establish itself as a brand powerful enough to translate to a video game?”

52 percent of Canadian music listeners say they’d be completely lost without their music. And advertisers are taking a cue from Jay Z and “smarting up and opening the market up” by aligning with music on all platforms to give their brands a lift in the eyes (and ears) of consumers.

Europeans remained in a spending holding pattern in the second quarter and increased their actions to save on household expenses as unemployment rates in many European markets were high and confidence in the economic outlook for the rest of the year remained weak.

Established as a bastion of direct response advertising and long considered the home for niche audiences, online has lagged behind other media, namely TV, as a channel for broadly messaged, brand advertising. The emergence of far-reaching publishers like Facebook, however, means that marketers now have another option for reaching consumers en masse.

Often treated as an afterthought by marketers and agencies alike, the :15 TV spot is usually just a cut down version of the :30, rarely copy tested, but assumed to be at least 50 percent as good as the :30 from which it’s derived.

More North Americans had discretionary income in the second quarter than they did at the start of the year, according to findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. One-fifth (21%) of North Americans reported having no spare cash, which was an improvement from 26 percent reported in the first quarter.

Consumers don’t live their lives within the crisp confines of existing UPC classifications, and latent demand rarely pops neatly from customer surveys or focus groups. And that’s the challenge for innovators today on their quest for breakthrough innovation success—understand your consumer and more importantly, identify their unmet needs.

Car ownership in China is no longer just a privilege for a select few in China. In fact, continuous urbanization and improving living standards are having a significant impact on the car buyers of tomorrow—a strong majority of whom live in China’s fast-growing tier three and tier four cities.

More than half (55%) of global respondents to a Nielsen online survey believed they were in a recession in the second quarter--the lowest level reported since Q1 2011. The recessionary mindset among North Americans strengthened the most during the three-month period, declining six percentage points to 69 percent.

With the myriad ways for consumer to discover music—from hearing an infectious tune in a car ad to reading about a new band on a buddy’s blog—Nielsen found that consumers in Canada still rely on an old standby.

Global consumer confidence increased one point to an index of 94 in the second quarter, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen. The increase is part of a slow, but steady upward movement in consumer sentiment reported in the first half of the year.

Global consumer confidence increased one point to an index of 94 in the second quarter, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen. The increase is part of a slow, but steady upward movement in consumer sentiment reported in the first half of the year.

Most U.S. consumers don’t start thinking about pies until the winter holidays approach, but now is the time when the retail food industry strategizes about which pies and promotions will serve up the most valuable pie sales in November and December.

Advertising spend continues to rebound globally, though increases slowed in the first quarter of 2013. According to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report, global advertising grew just 1.9 percent from the first quarter of 2012.

Advertising spend continues to rebound globally, though increases slowed in the first quarter of 2013. According to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report, global advertising grew just 1.9 percent to $76.6 billion from the first quarter of 2012.

In the never-ending battle to gain market share and stand out as the “it” gadget of our time, technology advertisers are employing more aggressive tactics to convince consumers that they offer the fastest, smartest and most intuitive devices on the market.

Finely illustrated and often rich in plotlines, graphic novels have carved out a place on bookstore shelves, just a stone’s throw from Poe, Hemmingway and Chaucer. Their popularity has, no doubt, been given a boost by several successful TV shows and movie franchises.

When shopping for groceries, the overwhelming majority of consumers around the world plan their shopping trips by using a shopping list and comparing prices. Globally, 84 percent of respondents in a recent survey conducted by Nielsen said they use a shopping list on at least a few trips and 88 percent said they compare prices.

Occasions of listening are easier to influence than how long they last. In other words, focus on getting listeners to tune back in. And now the subject of daily occasions is standard in every program director’s ratings toolbox.

It may be a long time before the bulk of China’s population embraces the idea of buying alcohol online, but sales of beer, wine and spirits over the Internet in the country are steadily clicking upward. Notably, more and more consumers are saving themselves the trip to the store by purchasing their liquor online—something that’s only been an option since 2007.

Fragmentation is everywhere, and we’re bombarded with choice. From thousands of consumer products to dozens of retail channels to the expanding and evolving list of traditional and non-traditional sources for information, cutting through the clutter is where we find and fulfill unmet needs.

VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" was the top social TV program of last week, racking up more tweets than other reality shows "Big Brother" and "The Bachelorette." Other buzzworthy shows included MTV's "Catfish: The TV Show," MTV's "Teen Wolf" and ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars."

Looks can be deceiving in India’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market. In spite of the sector’s stable, growing and lucrative appearance, it remains highly elusive and competitive. It’s also very sensitive, as one new product or a simple innovation can change market share in just a matter of days.

Network affiliates and advertisers in local markets both strive to stretch their budgets. It’s especially paramount in smaller markets, where local networks vie relentlessly for market share. Given the stakes, companies operating in local markets are always on the lookout for any possible advantage they can use to their benefit.

When it comes to being eco-friendly, online respondents in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East/Africa were the most receptive to making a difference, according to new findings from a Nielsen Global Survey. Conversely, North Americans were the least eco-minded compared with the rest of the world.

In many growth markets, discretionary income is rising and consumption is expanding beyond the everyday basics. New findings from a Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Shopping Behavior revealed that many online respondents in Asia-Pacific and Middle-East/Africa are impulse buyers and adopters of new products.

If April showers bring May flowers, then millions of Americans must have been busy with home improvement projects this spring, as more than 1 in 3 Americans used the Web to visit home and garden websites in May.

With seven billion people living in the world, it may be surprising to learn that when it comes to core familial, educational, and religious values, we’re more similar than different. When it comes to how we shop, however, our preferences can differ quite a bit depending on where we live.

With seven billion people living in the world, new findings from a Nielsen global survey revealed that when it comes to core fundamental lifestyle values centered on family, education or religious aspirations, we are more alike than we are different. What drives our shopping preferences, however, can vary considerably depending on where we live.

Technology is catching up with our on-the-go lifestyles, empowering millions of Americans to shop whenever and wherever they want. Along with growing smartphone and tablet ownership, mobile shopping continues to grow.

Contrary to popular belief, the fast-moving consumer goods segment in Egypt is booming, largely due to exponential growth in the snack and drink categories. In fact, the strength of these two areas has helped prevent signs of general weakness, stagnation or recession after the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

Mobile usage is exploding, and it’s not hard to see why—over half of all Americans have a smartphone, and most of us keep our phones with us all day. This presents a huge opportunity for marketers to communicate on a nearly ubiquitous platform.

This year’s cricketing extravaganza in India—the Indian Premier League (IPL)—is now a part of sports history, but the event provided a wealth of insights regarding the ads that most appealed to fans during the key match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians.

Over the next five years, the local TV audience will be increasingly multicultural and multi-screen. Trends highlight that local audiences are changing rapidly as they seek information that connects both culturally and digitally.

More and more professional athletes are taking the courageous step to come out, publicly highlighting the connection between sports and the gay and lesbian community in important and unprecedented ways.

As the sport of basketball and the NBA continue to grow in popularity in countries and continents around the world, it’s no wonder that the globalization of the sport has generated a widespread and diverse fan base.

Financial headwinds are the new normal, and U.S. consumers are feeling the effects across the board. Whether it’s spiking food and gas prices, surging energy bills, mounting health care costs, higher payroll taxes, or all of the above, rising costs of living are putting the squeeze on everyone’s wallets.

From their money to their media, Boomers and Millennials exhibit vastly different behaviors and habits. Yet, despite being born 30 years apart, these two mega-generations have something in common: they are in demand by advertisers wishing to attract their attention and their dollars.

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo is a big believer in the social aspect of television. While he contends that TV has always been social, today’s technology allows the social aspect to take place in real-time and in an un-filtered way free of third party intervention.

Mobile devices are becoming an increasingly common part of our daily TV routines. According to the latest Nielsen survey of connected device owners, nearly half of smartphone and tablet owners say they use their devices as second screens while watching TV.

Movie trailers are a curious offering. Do viewers like them? Do theater owners want to show them? Some theater owners might even say they’re too long. And with summer blockbusters rolling in, do they get in the way of the main attraction?

From live local newscasts via mobile to time-shifted season finales in the living room, the rising wave of streamed content continues to engage our eyes and ears. And digital music plays a big part of the swell, keeping our toes tapping and heads bobbing.

Hispanics are steadily helping shape the landscape of America’s economy and have become a game changer for marketers. But within this broad demographic lies a powerful core segment that accounts for 37 percent of the group’s total spending power—and this spending power is increasing.

The mobile consumer is an active player in the viewing ecosystem, taking advantage of mobile content on both smartphones and tablets. In the spectrum of evolving media, nothing is growing faster than the adoption of portable devices and the consumption of content on these devices.

In the spectrum of evolving media, nothing is growing faster than the adoption of portable devices and the consumption of content on these devices. At the same time, traditional TV remains vibrant and continues to thrive.

It’s tempting to be bad—but is it worth it to your reputation? That’s one of the questions a group of marketing and content luminaries pondered during a panel discussion at Nielsen’s Consumer 360 event.

Over the last six years, TV networks’ Twitter accounts have gone from being little more than promotional outlets for tune-in messaging to real-time channels for networks and advertisers to interact with highly engaged audiences.

Capturing the consumer’s attention in the past was relatively straightforward. It was never truly easy, but consumers faced a much simpler set of decisions at the shelf than they do today. There were also far fewer touch points guiding them along their paths.

The promise of digital marketing continues to grow as big data gets bigger and is turbo charged with mobile and social. In theory, digital marketing should be more precise and better than traditional analog marketing.

A significant part of the world’s advertising dollars is wasted because companies are unable to accurately track campaign resonance and reaction. Neuroscience, the study of the brain and nervous system, can address this age-old need.

Three trends are making it easier for marketers to justify moving brand dollars into digital media: audiences are consuming an ever-increasing amount of digital media; richer creative formats are allowing marketers to create more engaging consumer experiences online; and consistent multi-platform metrics are emerging that allow us track relative efficacy of different media.

Despite the boom in e-commerce, U.S. consumers do most of their shopping at physical stores. But in order to attract and captivate consumers, shopping centers have become much more than just places to buy things—they’re social centers, places for entertainment and employment hubs.